e opened his eyes. Ulana! They had spared
her. Alert on the instant, he was acutely aware of the babbling of
voices close at hand. Ianito was there, at the base of the huge
telescope, talking with Dantor, his voice raised excitedly. The
monorail crew stood by, and he noted with grim satisfaction that
several of them were as badly damaged as he could wish.

His gaze returned to the sweet face that bent so near. Weakly he drew
the golden head to his breast; held it there a moment, thinking,
hoping, planning. Then he sat up on the edge of the low couch on which
he had been placed, regarding her anxiously. Evidently they had not
harmed her--as yet.

Ianito had dismissed the green-bronze ones and was approaching the
couch. Dantor was with him, lagging a little and pressing a finger to
his lips; shaking his head gravely to warn them. They must not speak of
the plans made in the Tritu Anu; must not talk.

The Dictator was regarding them now with hard eyes. But it seemed
almost that something of admiration or respect, something of human-like
emotion was in his cold stare.

"Hah!" he grunted, at last. "These two are in love, Dantor. It is as
you explained. It is good, and fits in with my plans to a nicety. I
shall spare the life of the Earth man on account of his knowledge of
the inner planets; I can use him later. The girl I shall spare for a
different reason, and that fits in with my plans as well."

* * * * *

What did he mean by that last crack, the grinning devil? A sinister
intent was there, behind his smooth talk. Blaine half rose from his
seat in quick anger, but the girl's gentle touch on his arm restrained
him. She depended on him now and he'd have to go easy until the proper
time came.

"Impetuous, aren't they?" Ianito was saying, "these Earth men. A
characteristic that must get them into much trouble, even in their own
world."

Laughing at him, this hell-hound! Blaine gritted his teeth.

The Dictator addressed him directly. "You are a fortunate young man,"
he drawled sarcastically. "You have slain several of my trusted
retainers and by so doing have forfeited your right to life. But Ianito
is forgiving. Mechanized, you will be of value to me when the great day
comes. And it pleases me that you are so deeply attached to the Rulan
maiden; it pleases me greatly."

"Why?" Blaine snapped, a great rage consuming him. Only the pressure of
Ulana's fingers held him back. H